A range of interior and exterior design styles
The houses of the Cité internationale reflect a variety of architectural influences, yet all share the same high standards in the design of their interior and exterior spaces. Many brought together architects, designers and artists to create bespoke furniture and fittings. Designed to foster conviviality, they feature spacious communal areas that encourage interaction, often with a majestic entrance hall, as seen at the Fondation Biermans-Lapôtre or the Maison Heinrich Heine. Their large reception rooms host cultural life and are sometimes adorned with remarkable frescoes or paintings.
An invitation to explore the world of art
The Cité internationale universitaire de Paris is not just a place of architecture; it is also a true open-air museum, where paintings, frescoes, tapestries and unique decorative works stand side by side. Inside the houses, art enriches shared spaces and plays a central role in shaping the spirit of each place. These works bear witness to a time when architects, painters and decorators often collaborated to create harmonious ensembles, serving a dialogue between cultures. In doing so, they extend the founding idea of a place dedicated to encounter, giving each house a singular artistic identity.
A journey through remarkable works
In these salons designed to encourage exchange, several artists have left behind exceptional creations. The Fondation des Etats-Unis, for example, houses monumental Art Deco frescoes by Robert La Montagne Saint-Hubert, listed as Historic Monuments, which retrace the great ages of French art. At the Fondation Biermans-Lapôtre, frescoes painted in 1927 by René Gaucher illustrate iconic sites of the cultural and historical heritage of Brussels, Antwerp, Namur and Liège.
Further on, the neoclassical salon of the Hellenic Foundation is adorned with a frieze painted by Pierre Victor Robiquet, depicting scenes inspired by ancient games and mythology. At the Fondation Deutsch de la Meurthe, the music room reveals an academic decor dedicated to dance, painted by Guy-Loë and later restored by students from the Institut national du patrimoine.
Other houses highlight painting and the decorative arts in different ways. The Résidence Lucien Paye displays imposing tapestries by Roger Bezombes. The grand salon of the Collège Néerlandais features two murals by Doeve: one devoted to the Dutch East Indies before Indonesia’s political independence, the other a map of the Netherlands marking all the university towns. At the Maison du Japon, the grand salon and hall are enhanced by two paintings by the celebrated Foujita, directly commissioned by the founder: The Arrival of Westerners in Japan and Horses.
Finally, the entrance hall of the Maison des étudiants de l’Asie du Sud-Est stands out for its staircase balustrade inspired by the Imperial Palace of Hué and its rich decor. It also houses a painting by Lê Phô dating from 1929, titled The Family Home in Tonkin or A Mother and Three Children Resting in a Courtyard.
A living heritage
These works are far more than simple ornaments: they help make the Cité internationale a place inhabited by the arts, where every space tells a story and extends a cultural journey. They contribute to the everyday beauty enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, reinforcing the humanist and artistic vocation of this extraordinary campus.
Discover our hidden treasures
with the video series "Regards
These six frescoes, created by Robert La Montagne Saint-Hubert, are to be found in the grand salon of the Fondation des Etats-Unis, which was listed as a Historic Monument in 2009.
The gardens of the Maison du Mexique are home to a replica of the sun stone, an iconic work of Aztec art.
This painting by the famous artist Tsugouharu Foujita, which has hung in the Maison du Japon since 1929, depicts the meeting of two civilisations.
The lounge of the Fondation danoise is adorned with frescos by Kraesten Iversen exploring the Danish countryside through the prism of the four seasons.
The renovation of the Maison des étudiants de l’Asie du Sud-Est enabled this 1929 painting to be restored by the students from the Institut national du Patrimoine.
Originally from the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi in Milan, this fresco, attributed to an artist close to Giovannino de’ Grassi, is on display at the Maison de l’Italie.
The Salon Courbe at the Fondation suisse houses a remarkable colour fresco, La peinture du silence, created by Le Corbusier in 1948.
This painting by Jerk Werkmäster, exhibited in the Maison des étudiants suédois, echoes the naive mural style characteristic of Sweden’s Dalarna region.
The walls of the central library are adorned with a painting by George Léo Nicolas Degorce celebrating the medieval origins of the university of Paris.
The grand salon of the Fondation Lucien Paye is decorated with monumental tapestries by Roger Bezombes, made in the Aubusson workshops. These tapestries were classified as Historic Monuments in 2003.
A place for artistic creatioN
The Cité internationale occupies a unique place in Paris’s cultural landscape. It has an environment that is conducive to the creation and dissemination of the arts. It wants to go further by making the campus a new cultural and artistic laboratory in Paris and a place where international artists in exile or looking for an inspiring place to work can find a home.
THE THEATRE AND ITS WORKSHOPS FOR RESIDENTS
The Cité internationale Theatre organises workshops enabling them to practice an artistic discipline related to the stage. They are accompanied by artists in residence or outside contributors.
